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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Purification and Expansion of Mouse Invariant Natural Killer T Cells for in vitro and in vivo Studies
Published on: February 15, 2021
Natural Killer T cells and the invariant subset promote atherosclerosis: A meta-analysis
Rituparna Chakrabarti1, Sushmitha Duddu1, Ashutosh Tiwari2
1School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, India.
Aims:
Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are reported to be both pro- and anti-atherosclerotic. With this meta-analysis, we evaluated the NKT population and their subsets in regulating the atherosclerotic disease in mice.
Main Methods:
Eighteen pre-clinical (mice, n = 1276) and 6 clinical observational studies (humans, n = 116) met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Random effects model was used and standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated for the cell counts and aortic lesion area.
Key Findings:
Lesion area decreased in the absence of whole NKT cell population (-1.33[95%CI, -2.14, -0.52]), and in the absence of only iNKT subset (-0.66[95%CI, -1.69, 0.37]). However, lesion area increased after over-expression/activation of iNKTs (1.40[95%CI, 0.28, 2.52]). Atherogenic diet (AD) or high fat diet (HFD) increased the number of NKT cells (2.51[95%CI, 1.42, 3.61]), whereas the iNKT cell numbers and iNKT cell-specific gene expression decreased in mice (-2.04[95%CI, -3.34, -0.75]) and atherosclerotic patients (-1.81[95 % CI, -2.89, -0.74]).
Significance:
Here we show that, NKT and iNKT cells promote atherosclerosis. In general, NKT cell population increases with the progression of the plaque in mice and the numbers of iNKT cells reduce once the disease is established both in mice and humans.
Insights
Natural Killer T (NKT) cells and their subsets promote atherosclerosis. NKT cell numbers increase with plaque progression, while iNKT cells decrease in established disease in mice and humans.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- The role of Natural Killer T (NKT) cells in atherosclerosis is debated, with evidence suggesting both pro- and anti-atherosclerotic effects.
- Understanding the specific contributions of NKT cell populations and their subsets is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Approach:
- This meta-analysis synthesized data from 18 pre-clinical mouse studies (n=1276) and 6 human observational studies (n=116).
- Random effects models were employed to calculate the standard mean difference (SMD) for cell counts and aortic lesion area.
Key Points:
- Absence of whole NKT cells or iNKT subsets reduced lesion area, while iNKT overexpression/activation increased it.
- Atherogenic diets increased total NKT cell counts.
- iNKT cell numbers and gene expression decreased in advanced disease stages in both mice and humans.
Conclusions:
- NKT cells and specifically iNKT cells appear to promote atherosclerosis development and progression.
- NKT cell populations generally increase with plaque growth, whereas iNKT cell numbers decline as the disease becomes established.
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